A meeting with en Marche

By invitation of the French Parliament and deputy Ludovic Mendes and with the support of the French Government, EU40 decided to host its 4th Young Parliamentarians Forum in Paris on September 18 and 19. In times of tectonic shifts of the political landscape in Europe, we travelled to one of the epicentres of these movements, in order to learn and exchange.

As young, elected representatives of the peoples in their respective EU Member States, the participants vowed to uphold and protect the values of the Lisbon Treaty mentioned in article 1a of the preamble: “The European Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail“.

The YPF participants acknowledged that the EU, with mentioned values enshrined in the Lisbon treaty, is under attack by political forces bent on withdrawing to the status quo before the great wars. With the nation state the largest legal entity and multilateralism between states abolished. Any shared responsibilities and solidarity are terminated and the European Union, as we know it, dissolved. 

Very aware that political complacency and passiveness will allow those, pro-active, organised and motivated, to reach their goals against the will of an un-mobilised majority. The exit of the United Kingdom from the EU serves as a warning example here and we interpreted this decision as one of the major political mistakes of the 21st century till date.

Europe will be unable and ill equipped to compete with the great emerging powers around the world, such as China and Russia, both economically as geo-strategically.

The largest problems we are faced with on the European continent, such as pollution, security, energy and an agricultural reform, alongside to the digital revolution, can solely be adequately tackled as a Union.

Simultaneously no one argues with the fact that the EU, as it has developed, is deeply flowed and needs reforms in many areas.

It was therefore promising to witness that the YPF Members are bent on pushing for necessary EU reforms in their respective Member States and exude pressure on their representatives in the EU Council to support the efforts of the European Parliament and the European Commission to realise the necessary reforms in full respect of the principles of subsidiarity, as enshrined in Article 3b of the Lisbon Treaty.

The YPF participants commended French President Emmanuel Macron for the reforms he has kick-started in his own country, as a basis for a European solution. Everyone agrees that there are no solely national solutions any longer. Change can only be made together as a Union.

 Therefore all participants were generally open to support the main visions articulated by President Macron at the University of Sorbonne one year ago in their respective Member States:

 A European Intelligence Agency to ensure a common security regime, a carbon tax levied at the EU’s borders to decrease our carbon footprint and decrease competitive disadvantages for clean producers, a revival of the currently near-dead discussions on a financial transaction tax (FTT) to decrease the social divide and increase financial stability, the Eurozone budget, a “European agency for disruptive innovation, to stay on par globally in the field of science and technology, a determined effort to push high school and college students to study in other EU countries, and the creation of “real European universities” giving out European diplomas, to strengthen a deep European identity and enhance our academic ability.

While modernising and liberalising our economies, we also need to protect” our citizens against social or trade dumping, create a “solidarity fund” and boost our budget for overseas aid. We will do this in the understanding that social disparities are a core reason for a loss in voter’s trust.

There is an understanding that it is those, who feel left behind by globalisation and lost in the midst of a digital revolution, that prefer to return to anachronistic but known political concepts that prove unfit for our modern world. We need to take these people by the hand and actively address their fears and concerns, instead of simply condemning them.

 Racism and the fear of the foreign and unknown are just as much a part of human nature, as love, care and empathy. Our political elites have been patronising towards these fears in the past and have condemned the attitude instead of addressing them. We need to explain to our populations that in view of our demographic demise, we need controlled and planned immigration to allow further economic growth.

While conscious that endorsing the vision of the en Marche movement embodies a potential solution to break out of the political crisis the European Union is currently experiencing, the participants requested the en Marche leadership to respect the different economic and socio-political realities in the various Member States and expects a general willingness for compromise. An attitude of ?with or against us’, will mean the swift end of these well-intended efforts. 

Macron’s vision encompasses both neo-liberal and socialist values. This good to my mind. But it is also the core reason, why it is so hard for Socialists and Conservatives to fully endorse him and his vision for Europe. Their respective party bases would be up in arms, the leadership would lose support. Party democracy once again proves to be overhauled and decrypt. It stands in the way of reform and change. Without it, I fear, the EU cannot survive. The last elections in France proved how both large parties, who have ruled France since the end of the WWII, have simply been swept away; made an anachronism. Important is now that Macron manages to fill power vacuum and leave no space for the populists to move even further into the centre of our societies. One of En Marche's weaknesses lies in the fact that they are again mainly represented by urban elites. I am unsure in how far they will be able to reach the ‘indignant generation’. What is refreshing, however, is the fact that many of the en Marche leadership are new in politics. They have achieved and are accomplished in different areas of the economy previously and are now giving back to society, by supporting this movement. They all previously voted for different political parties. Today they transforming France (and possibly Europe) together. Just as the ancient Greek ideal would have it. SabineThillaye, BrunePoirson, Ludovic Mendes, Pieyrre-Alexandre Anglade and Martin Bohmert, who all took the time to meet and exchange ideas with us, are excellent examples of this new brand of authentic politicians.